Chapter 241: Changing Cultivation Method (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Chapter 241: Changing Cultivation Method (Seeking Monthly Votes)
Half an hour later.
Beneath the Demonic Tree.
Fang Xi meticulously reattached Old Devil Ling's arm.
This Perfected Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator had now become his wood puppet.
And, perhaps due to his improved puppet-making skills, its magical power managed to maintain itself at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, which delighted Fang Xi immensely.
After all, a wood puppet of this caliber was already qualified to serve as a primary array eye for the 'Heavenly Wolf Battle Formation', its formidable magical power capable of further enhancing the formation's might.
"But. . . it really was You Chong. . ."
Recalling the fragmented memories he had extracted while creating the wood puppet, Fang Xi's expression couldn't help but darken.
This made Fang Xi secretly resolve that once he left Dragon Fish Island in the future, he would certainly make You Chong pay dearly.
"Hmm. . . these Core Formation sects, each one appearing righteous on the surface, are actually quite adept at secretly colluding with demonic cultivators and eliminating dissenters. . ."
Certain hidden secrets discovered in Old Devil Ling's mind also made Fang Xi marvel.
Aside from a few sinister refined corpses and demonic path materials, there wasn't much of value in his storage bag. However, that demonic blade talisman treasure still seemed usable a few more times, so Fang Xi took it.
The demonic art Old Devil Ling cultivated wasn't in the storage bag, and Fang Xi couldn't piece together its full scope from the memory fragments.
However, one secret art, capable of escaping by severing an arm, was relatively complete and was memorized by Fang Xi.
"Gecko Tail Shedding Tribulation Evasion Grand Art!"
"It's no wonder this fellow survived a direct blow from the Green Reaping Sword earlier; he really had something up his sleeve. . ."
Fang Xi felt this secret art was quite suitable for him.
Although Old Devil Ling would suffer dismemberment and a massive expenditure of vital essence each time he used it,
Fang Xi possessed the 'Wood Spirit Body', capable of regenerating severed limbs. When facing a life-or-death crisis, such a price was simply negligible.
After a previous round of testing, he had confirmed that with all his methods unleashed, even relying solely on the Wood Spirit Divine Light, he could contend with Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivators. If he added other techniques, claiming invincibility below Core Formation wasn't an exaggeration either.
'Alas. . . merely "below Core Formation". . . For example, against those Heavenly Demon disciples, encountering their strong cultivators, victory is still uncertain. I cannot become complacent. . . '
Fang Xi took out the array flags and completely sealed off the 'Nine-Nethers Profound Wood Grand Array'.
Above Dragon Fish Island, a layer of dark sky descended, enveloping the entire island.
After several repetitions, he confirmed that no cultivators were hiding, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He sat cross-legged beneath the Demonic Tree, took out the "Withered Glory Chant" and the "Green Wood Longevity Art", and began to meditate on them.
"Although the 'Green Wood Longevity Art' has eighteen layers, its cultivation method is only average. . ."
"In comparison, the 'Withered Glory Chant' is a top-tier cultivation method; both its magical power advancement and its associated secret arts are quite outstanding. . ."
"If I am to form my Golden Core, I should adjust my cultivation method starting now. . ."
Fang Xi fell into deep thought.
No regrets after forming the Golden Core!
If he were to change his cultivation method after forming the Golden Core, it would inevitably yield half the results for double the effort, and would be extremely troublesome.
"But the 'Withered Glory Chant' only has seventeen layers. . . Logically speaking, the Nine Leaves Sect's legacy couldn't possibly be inferior to that unknown Core Formation sect that once ruled the State of Mu. . ."
"So. . . there should be a continuation, perhaps still within the core ruins of Emerald Island?"
"Forget it, why am I thinking so much? I can reach Nascent Soul anyway. At least before Nascent Soul, I don't need to worry about cultivation method issues."
...
A month later.
Fang Xi emerged from seclusion and saw off Ruan Xing Ling and Liu San Qi.
By this time, the vicinity of Dragon Fish Island had returned to peace. These two were returning to Spirit Sky Island to relieve Zhong Hong Yu.
After all, Zhong Hong Yu was also a cultivator devoted to the Great Dao; to progress further on her cultivation path, she couldn't miss the opportunities at Emerald Island.
Since the last breakthrough into the inner circle, many more precious items had emerged from Emerald Island, truly stimulating more Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Three Kingdoms to come seeking treasure.
As for the terrifying death rate caused by array counterattacks and killings by rogue cultivators, these were simply ignored by the cultivators.
Seizing this opportunity, the Spirit Sky Island market town had made a hefty profit, so much so that Zhong Hong Yu didn't dare to be negligent. Before venturing to Emerald Island, she returned to Dragon Fish Island one last time to deposit a large sum of spirit stones with Fang Xi.
Ever since his duel with the Spirit Sword Sect's Grand Elder and forcing You Chong to retreat, Fang Xi's reputation as the number one cultivator in Myriad Islands Lake had spread far and wide, no longer limited to just the cultivators of the lake itself.
Everyone knew that the Dragon Fish Island Master's divine abilities and magical power were enough to make even late Foundation Establishment cultivators extremely wary.
Being able to host private trade fairs independently was proof of the trust and recognition of his strength among numerous cultivators!
However, Fang Xi harbored no self-satisfaction.
Possessing the 'All-Heavens Precious Mirror', he knew how vast the true world was, and how countless cultivation prodigies were like carp crossing a river; his own meager abilities were nothing at all.
Compared to fame, tangible progress in cultivation brought far more peace of mind.
Therefore, after acquiring what he needed and refining a batch of spirit pills using the spiritual herbs obtained through trading 'second-tier forbidden-breaking talismans' and 'Foundation Establishment Pills', he once again entered a state of seclusion.
At this moment, he had decided to switch to cultivating the 'Withered Glory Chant', a top-tier cultivation method!
By then, forming his Golden Core with the 'Withered Glory Chant' should be superior to using the 'Green Wood Longevity Art'.
...
Several years later.
Inside the secret chamber.
Fang Xi formed hand seals, his body flickering with alternating bright yellow and verdant green lights.
"Eight thousand years for spring, eight thousand years for autumn, one spring and autumn for one cycle of withered glory. . ."
After a long while, he let out a long breath: "This 'Withered Glory Chant' is truly profound and intricate. . . and my 'Wood Spirit Body' seems to be perfectly suited for it. . ."
Generally speaking, cultivating such a top-tier method demands extremely high qualifications from a cultivator.
Fang Xi's original inferior-grade spiritual root aptitude, even with a top-tier cultivation method, would have made his progress bumpy and arduous.But after cultivating the 'Wood Spirit Body', everything became completely different.
He felt that his progress in switching cultivation methods was incredibly smooth and seamless, encountering hardly any difficulties or obstacles.
By this point, all the liquid magical power within his body had transformed into the half-withered, half-verdant 'Withered Glory Chant' magical power.
Each droplet of liquid magical power continuously emitted two-colored profound light, alternating and moving, appearing exceptionally peculiar.
"Longevity Art. . . Withered Glory Chant. . . it's quite possible that in the ancient Nine Leaves Sect, they were originally complementary cultivation methods and secret arts. . ."
Fang Xi murmured to himself, then walked out of the seclusion chamber in good spirits.
It was springtime, and all things were burgeoning, the entire island verdant, a scene of vibrant life.
He strolled across the lawn, a thoughtful expression on his face.
The next moment, Fang Xi took a deep breath. Surrounded by the fresh fragrance of grass and trees, he continuously formed hand seals.
The surrounding vegetation rustled incessantly, seemingly bowing down to their king.
And upon Fang Xi's body, a layer of magical light, intermingling green and yellow, shimmered continuously, enveloping his entire being.
"Go!"
Finally, Fang Xi's hand seals ceased, and his entire person vanished instantly.
A hundred zhang away, beside a peach tree, a flash of green light appeared, and Fang Xi stepped out of it.
"Wood Evasion Art, successful!"
He had originally been researching this secret art, and after transforming his cultivation method, the last few minor bottlenecks were naturally overcome, allowing him to master this secret technique.
"The Five Elements Evasion Arts may seem ordinary, but each one is a supreme divine ability for killing enemies and preserving one's life. . ."
"My cultivation of the Wood Evasion Art complements my other skills perfectly. . . As for the Withered Glory Mystic Light, that will probably have to wait until after I form my Golden Core."
Although he succeeded once, it didn't mean he could successfully cast it every time in the future.
Moreover, the casting time also needed to be shortened as much as possible.
Therefore, Fang Xi formed hand seals again, traversing through the vegetation, experiencing the power of the Wood Evasion Art, and making various adjustments.
With the aid of the 'Wood Spirit Body', his progress in this wood-element secret art was incredibly rapid, akin to a thousand li a day.
Later, he could activate it almost as soon as he formed a hand seal, making it fully applicable in actual combat.
Spirit Herb Valley.
Fang Xi formed hand seals, his aura becoming ethereal, gradually vanishing.
As a top-tier wood-element cultivation method, the 'Withered Glory Chant' naturally included arts similar to 'Concealment Art'.
And they were even more profound and subtle.
At the very least, Fang Xi felt that with his current ability to conceal his cultivation, even a Core Formation early-stage Ancestor might overlook him if they weren't careful.
"Withered, glory. . . from glory to wither!"
A mysterious, pearl-like hand seal appeared in Fang Xi's hand. With a sudden rotation, the magical power on his body, which had been intermingling green and yellow, completely transformed into a withered yellow hue.
Subsequently, his entire aura became like that of a rotten log by the roadside, easily overlooked if one wasn't paying close attention.
"Hmm. . . this art is excellent."
Fang Xi praised, patrolling the Spirit Herb Valley.
At this moment, Xiahou Zun's hair was already white, and his back was stooped as he rested beside the spirit fields.
By his side was Tai Shu Hong, who had matured considerably.
"Uncle Zun, take a break. . ."
Tai Shu Hong offered a water skin.
"Sigh. . ."
Xiahou Zun took a drink, sat on a bluestone by the spirit field, took out the tobacco pipe from his waist, and began smoking dry tobacco.
The atmosphere seemed somewhat subdued.
After a long while, Xiahou Zun exhaled a smoke ring: "Have you heard the news from Spirit Sky Island?"
"I have. Patriarch Yan Dong Qing of the Yan family successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment last month and is now a great cultivator in the Foundation Establishment realm," Tai Shu Hong replied steadily.
"The Yan family. . . Heh, when their old ancestor Yan Wuxu hadn't risen yet, they were far inferior to my top three families. Yet now, they're also a Foundation Establishment immortal clan, guarding a region, possessing a second-tier spirit island, controlling a market town, and earning massive wealth daily. . ."
Xiahou Zun looked at Tai Shu Hong: "You have a superior-grade spiritual root. . . this opportunity in the ruins is rare, you must seize it! Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment!"
"Uncle Zun, I understand."
Tai Shu Hong lowered his head.
...
"Oh? Yan Dong Qing has broken through to Foundation Establishment?"
Fang Xi stood to one side, yet these two seemed completely unaware of his presence, chatting idly.
He listened for a long time, then turned and left.
Yan Dong Qing's success in Foundation Establishment didn't surprise Fang Xi.
After all, in recent years, with the fall of Emerald Island's spirit herb garden and the outflow of Golden Jade Ganoderma, quite a few rogue cultivators had seized the opportunity to successfully establish their foundations.
The Yan family, having a ten percent share in the market town and being ideally positioned, acquiring a 'Foundation Establishment Pill' was not difficult for them.
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